BAY MINETTE, Alabama -- RIDEYELLOW is more than a bike ride through a picturesque north Baldwin. It’s about honoring the people who have battled cancer and providing assistance to those still waging that war, organizers said.

The charity bike ride founded in 2007 by Mary Trufant and Ann White-Spunner to raise awareness of cancer and to draft grassroots support for their mission of inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer. That first year drew 300 riders and raised $30,000. The following year, the race moved from Loxley to Bay Minette and grew to 450 riders.

The ride has continued to grow in popularity and last year saw more than 750 cyclists take part, bringing in $70,000 which was donated to Camp Rap-A-Hope, USS Hope, Livestrong, Camp Odyssey and Covenant Hospice. To date, the event has raised more than $330,000 for various charities.

RIDEYELLOW features four courses that cyclists can choose from, depending on their skill level. Courses include a six-mile tribute ride, with a slow pace; the 10-mile flat course that is suited to new riders; a 37-mile moderately hilly course for intermediate riders; and a 62-mile ride for experience riders.

Bay Minette Bob Wills said the city is thrilled to be home to such an outstanding event, which supports so many worthy causes.

“The City of Bay Minette is very excited to be hosting Ride Yellow again this year. This is a terrific event for a wonderful cause and it is our privilege to be able to sponsor it. Mary Trufant and her staff do a great job in organizing and our people and the Chamber Staff do an outstanding job in helping to make this a memorable event for everyone involved.”

In addition to that, the event provides the city with invaluable exposure as guests stay in local hotels and visit Bay Minette businesses.

“We expect to have over a thousand people in town from all over the Southeast. It presents us with a real opportunity to show off our community and our citizens, and it will be a benefit to our retail establishments as well,” Wills said. “We very much look forward to it this year and many years to come.”

The community has embraced the event since it moved to Bay Minette. The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is also working to promote and welcome RIDEYELLOW. “We are honored to host RIDEYELLOW in Bay Minette. We are sending a newsletter out to all of the cyclists to encourage them to stay the weekend and enjoy all of the great outdoor attractions that the North Baldwin area has to offer,” said Rebecca Chesire, director of North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. “Not only is RIDEYELLOW a fabulous event, it is a boost to our local economy and gives us a chance to highlight the beauty of our natural resources.”